Big Bodied Cars

I keep seeing lots of cheap Impalas and Monte Carlos and other big body cars.  With a good paint job and the right stance, they can definitely look like mean cruising machines.  But how fast can they go?  Can they be made to handle well?

Hitting 12 seconds and being able to comfortably fit four people isn't shabby.  

As with everything, with enough money and/or fabrication anything is possible.  As for fast...12 seconds in one shouldn't be overly complicated given enough horsepower (and probably more torque) and the right rear end setup.  Using my Centurion as an example (same body as an Impala) with a .454 lift cam in a stock 455 (8.5:1 Compression, iron manifolds, Q-jet, points ignition, ~330Hp, ~Tons of Torque) and a peg-leg 2.93 rear end (and 5,160+lbs)it ran a tire smoking 15.58sec quarter.  With a better rear-end (posi, with 3.73+ gears), some tuneable rear suspension parts and a small diet it would probably put a serious dent in the time.  These large cars have the same rear suspension "design" as the A-bodies (3 link?) which I have seen made into serious cornering machines.  The trouble might be in the front end for cornering, I don't know if there are aftermarket A-Arms for them.  Then the usual, right springs, adjustable shocks, good bushings and a thick sway-arm bar in the front and rear for cornering.  I think the handling is possible, and probably for not much more than an A-body with the same modifications. Speed is as simple as more power and getting it to the ground properly. Remember the only thing cooler than running 12's is running 12's with 4 people in the car  
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The Silver Buick- '77 Skylark coupe w/ a Fuel Injected Buick 455&TKO-600, '72 Centurion Conv't - 455w/TH400, '67 T-bird 4Dr (suicide) w/428&C6. Needing to replace a '69 Firebird 400.

http://www.bangshift.com/forum/index.php?topic=6189.0

Car craft did a spread on a 10 sec Biscyane a few months back.The car was pretty simple too.Had a big fat rat under the hood though with lots of high zoot go fast stuff$$$$$ done to it.You can make anything go fast if you want to spend the money."speed aint cheap"Any car can be made to handle too but designe limits of whatever platform it is will determine how well.Example:Long wheel base cars are generally less responsive to handling upgrades due to the fact that the wheels are farther apart,they tend to be more stable though at speed.Just one of the things to consider when doing suspension work to improve handling.Mass is very important too.less is better(up to a point)One more reason big cars are difficult to make corner carvers.It can be done,how much you want to spend is what it comes down to.Max speed will be determined by vehicle aero dynamics.Hence the reason super birds and daytona chargers had pointy noses.  
Power is bliss Torque devine

I'm going to keep my eye out for an old Impala lowrider with a ghetto facelift and air suspension.  The resale value should be low.

Soften up the air shocks, black out the hood and hardtop.  Fix the rims and wheels.  Sounds like handling is a lost cause, so it'd probably just make a good hot roddish cruiser.  

If it doesn't handle, then you can work on your drifting. Nothing like a two and a half ton tank sliding around a turn.  I tell people that my problem is I drive my Centurion like it's a small car



Off topic: I saw an older Datsun 300Z tonight, they make SBC conversion kits for those, perhaps that would be a good choice of vehicle for your highwinding 283. Just food for thought.  
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The Silver Buick- '77 Skylark coupe w/ a Fuel Injected Buick 455&TKO-600, '72 Centurion Conv't - 455w/TH400, '67 T-bird 4Dr (suicide) w/428&C6. Needing to replace a '69 Firebird 400.

http://www.bangshift.com/forum/index.php?topic=6189.0

how fast do you want to spend?

 

That may be a fast, big-bodied car, but I doubt I'll fit into it.



Off Topic: Datsuns are way under appreciated.  That'd be a sick car for high speeds.  I'm currently thinking faded clear coat 'Vette--hence my beater wheels post.  

Here's a few big bodies cars for you. The most expensive one was the gold 70 Caprice at $2000. It came a 454 too. These were all mine at one time or another.

You can build a pretty mild 454 and go 12's very easily. 61-64 Impalas have cross frames that have a tendacy crack under real power. The are pretty rust prone lest you can get one from SoCal. 65-70's have a lot of support in the aftermarket now, but 99% don't have disc brakes. 71-76 models are little more portly, but all of came with V8's and auto trans with disc brakes.








 

I've got an 85 Olds Delta 88...it seats SIX comfortably.  But I'm dropping in a 66 Olds 425 Big Block.  I'll end up taking the 200-4R out of my Cutlass that I built (as it will be getting a TKO-600 eventually) and putting it behind the big block.  I'm planning on using an airbag suspension.  Its going to be more of a cruiser than anything...and the airbags are supposed to be pretty nice riding...but can be tuned somewhat for more performance.  I'll have an 8.5" ten bolt behind it all with a set of 3.73's.  I personally like the big cars...I enjoy seeing them built up.

And I LOVED that Biscayne that was in CC awhile back!  
68 Olds Cutlass ~ 350 Rocket
85 Delta 88 ~ 425 Rocket
02 Silverado 4X4 ~ 5.3L

Speaking of datsuns.I had one with a sbc400 in it when I was in the navy.Purchased the swap kit from Nissan motorsports,Kit was about 4Gs'had everything you need less motor/trans.I put a muncie M-22 behind it and had a blast.I think you can still get the kits from nismo.Would be an awsome car for a screaming 283!!!!!  
Power is bliss Torque devine

I have to agree that drifting in a 2 1/2 ton, 18ft long yatch is pretty fun and quite a thrill, but the expressions on unexpected bystanders/motorists is beyond priceless  
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It may not be the fastest or prettiest, but i can pretend